Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-08-20
A Model Pension Agent.

a man giving his name as Mhrtin'
V. Graham, not (Ingram, be particu-
lar to Observer was arrested on the
10Th inst, on a charge of obtaining
money under the false pretence of
being a pension agent. He con-
fined his operations to negro wo-
men, assuring them Of regular pen
sions from the government provided
they would pay the fees. When he
had succeeded in working up his eli
ents SO the proper degree Of excited
expectation, he inquired how much
money they had, and gobbled 1t up,
usually from $1.OO to 800 and in this
way had swindled agreat manyigno-
rant colored women. When brought
before Judge Tyler, the proof seemed
clear that he was an inposter, but
Graham produced telegram from
HI. NJ. Doak, of Nashville, stating
that he knew Martin V. Graham to
be pension agent. This rather non
plussed his honor, for he knew Mr..
Doak too well to suppose that
he would endorse an unworthy
man, but owing to the fellows
crookedness and unsavory reputa-
ton, having been found boarding
with colored woman of doubtful
character, Judge Tyler concluded
that Mr.. Doak had either been great
ly imposed upon or that the telegram
was forgery, and thereupon sent
Graham to Jail to await further de-
velopments. Graham claimed to
have papers in his valise at Guthrie
that will established his authority.
Deputy Marshal Lowe went for the
valise and returned without it.
Graham's landlady, an old wo-
man with whom he had
boarded, refused to give it up,
because he said he owed her two dol
lars, and could not get it until he
paid his board. He was tried before
Judge Tyler on Tuesday evening and
bound over to the Criminal court in
the sum of five hundred dollars.
The American of the 18th contains
the following report of an Interview
with Mr.. Doak:
When Mr.. Doak was informed of
the above last night by an American
reporter, he replied: "About
o'clock this afternoon / received All
inquiry from GAINESVILLE concerning
Graham. At the time / failed to re-
call the man and SO answered. An
hour latter, perhaps, / received a
message from Graham mentioning
some papers which / copied for
him some time ago and which were
to be sent to Washington. Then j
recalled the fact that he had, as pen
sion agent, secured some papers from
me, and / telegraphed to him as
stated. Personally l know nothing
concerning him save that he is rather
an ignorant man and was a Federal
soldier"
We append below copy verbatim
ct iiteratim of one of Graham's decla-
ration for arrears of pay and bounty.
1t is a literary curiousty:
Declaration for erears of pay
and Bounty
state of tennessee
county ofmongumery
city OF clarksville
on this 18th day Of august 1887 personality ap
peard before rGle II ID Read Dept elk of tn
county court, a court OF record IN and for thu
county and state afore said eyesic fields ages
40 years u resident of clarksville tenn witt
b+ihg duley sworen according to lave do sol
: lamey sware thai he is the identical eyesi
fields the onley aH and the onley Brother q
henry fields who was enrold on or about Ill
day of september 63 In company 10Th ridge
ment usci under captin Gordan and leu
tenant Scott at clarksville tenn and futile
declrire lhat his Brother henry fields wa
taken sick on or about 9Th day OF January Q
aud was sent to the hoSpitle at nashville an
; futher declare thPt remand at the hospitl
until his company was mustard out OF til
suryis and as the onley Brother he claims hi
! pay on Bounty and that he appoints marii
V Graham his lawful agent to persistent hi
claim
l Shorm Varce Clark his
Vile tenn Eyesic X fields
Mora clark Sviiia tenn